6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A serial killer in Los Angeles celebrates Jack the Ripper's 100th birthday by committing similar murders.
Starring: James Spader, Cynthia Gibb, Jim Haynie, Robert Picardo, Rod LoomisHorror | 100% |
Mystery | 1% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Note: A couple of unavoidable plot points are discussed below and may constitute "spoilers" for some. Those sensitive to this are
encouraged to skip down to the technical aspects of the review, below.
Time After Time famously posited science fiction writer H.G. Wells
(Malcolm McDowell) chasing Jack the Ripper (David Warner) into the 20th century when Wells’ supposed invention of a time machine allows
the infamous killer to escape into the future. There’s no science fiction angle at play in Jack’s Back, but in a way this 1988 feature
plays on the same general premise of Jack the Ripper, or at least a Jack the Ripper wannabe, wreaking havoc in “contemporary” times, in this
case the centennial of the original Jack’s murderous spree. Featuring a relatively early performance by James Spader in a dual role as twins,
Jack’s Back was the first writing and directing credit of one Rowdy Herrington, who in a rather self effacing commentary traces his
long apprenticeship in the sometimes crowded hallways of Hollywood, years of being an acolyte crew member on such films as Repo Man and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Jack’s Back plies fairly traditional mystery and/or
thriller territory, and while never overly innovative, it provides a nice showcase for Spader and manages to work up at least a couple of
moments of genuine suspense. Taking a perhaps odd page out of the source material that also provided the spark for Cheech & Chong's The Corsican
Brothers Jack’s Back conceit involves the almost telepathic connection between twins. When the first sibling played by
Spader, an up and coming doctor named John Wesford, is found dead from an apparent suicide after police think he may be the perpetrator
attempting to “recreate” Jack the Ripper’s horrific murders in a kind of “celebratory” revel 100 years after the original crimes, John’s brother
Rick (also played by Spader) shows up to try to sort things out, feeling intuitively that the police have pegged the wrong suspect and that
something more nefarious is at play.
Jack's Black is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Scream Factory, an imprint of Shout! Factory, with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. The back cover of this release touts this release as offering a "new high definition transfer from the original negative" and there's a "restored by Pinewood" banner which also adorns the release. Those aspects may raise expectations to levels that can't be totally supported by the film's low budget, lo-fi look, for while whatever restorative techniques were applied have delivered a virtually damage free viewing experience, nothing can really overcome an inherent softness and lack of detail that infuses large swaths of the film. Fine detail is marginally better in some close-ups, where things like the ribbed backings of various medical volumes can be made out quite clearly (see screenshot 13). There's an appealingly organic look to this presentation, with no signs of undue digital sharpening or noise reduction having been applied, but the grain field is a bit inconsistent in resolution and occasionally encounters compression problems as can be seen in some of the screenshots accompanying this review. Colors are generally accurate looking, if just slightly pallid at times. With an understanding that this film probably never looked great (I frankly never saw it in a theater), this is a solid looking transfer with no major issues.
Jack's Black features a problem free DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track which more than capably supports the film's dialogue and occasional use of source cues. There's not the typically florid dynamic range that's often on display in traditional slasher films, and so the soundtrack may come off to some listeners as unremarkable, but there are no issues with distortion, dropouts or other damage.
Good performances help elevate Jack's Back past some of its more ludicrous plot machinations, but the film is a bit listless overall and depends on a few too many convenient devices to get to its endgame. That very endgame is overly forced and convoluted, but the bulk of the film is reasonably suspenseful and offers James Spader a chance to portray two rather different siblings. Technical merits are generally strong and the minimal supplements are enjoyable. Recommended.
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